Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Cooper Flagg Names Toughest NBA Matchup Without Hesitation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 3:15 PM ET

As he prepares to defend the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Summer League, Cooper Flagg carries high expectations as the current No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Coming off a dream freshman season with the Duke Blue Devils, in which he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game and a Final Four berth, Flagg is set to elevate the Mavericks' level from the get-go.

Flagg will share touches with Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson before Kyrie Irving returns to action, to try to help the Mavericks compete for the championship. He's well aware that his team has a solid roster, but also knows that the competition won't be easy at all.

During a pre-draft chat with The Athletic, Flagg revealed what he thought would be his toughest matchup in the association. While most players, such as his former teammate Kon Knueppel (who picked Giannis Antetokounmpo) and No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper (Irving), named other players.

Flagg, instead, named a whole team, going with the reigning NBA champions.

"You know, I'll say just the Thunder in general," Flagg said. "They're young, they got a lot of good pieces, so that's going to be a tough team to beat."

Who’s the toughest matchup for these NBA rookies?

“Giannis? Oh for sure. He won’t be my matchup. We good.” pic.twitter.com/lH8yIEhNRz
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 5, 2025

The Thunder just beat the inspired Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. Although they needed seven games to do so, they entered the series as favorites to win it all. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso and Co. went to distance until they finally beat the overachieving Pacers.

After a busy offseason, the challenges will be harder for the Thunder. With teams like Flagg's Mavericks, the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, and more making moves, next season could be memorable.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: